Car Trends Magazine

Lugnano-based Faralli & Mazzanti auto is now at the point of departure for new projects, such as the new Antas V8 GT, the first “Berlinetta” created in their workshops. It is completely inspired by the philosophy and material used in the “special series” cars of the past: the body, for example, is made of aluminium and completely built by hand. It will be presented in public for the first time at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, on the occasion of the opening of the 'Top Marques Monaco' exhibition which brings together under one roof all the most famous, exclusive, prestigious and desirable automotive brands.

Antas is driven by a 310bhp V8 Maserati engine fed by carburettors and endowed with a pleasing elasticity of power, which gives the 'driver' the sensation of 'true' steering typical of the great touring cars of the past. Maximum speed is claimed to be 'above' 270km/h. Exterior features include a flush-fitting petrol inlet flap set into the rear screen, which is evoked by past Le Mans racing cars, hand-crafted and embossed sill protection plates, distinctive roof-mounted wipers that clear a split front windscreen, a riveted bonnet with fasteners that has been modelled on the famous Maserati Barchetta of the 1950s, a tailgate-mounted tailfin that incorporates a television camera, while the car's badges are made out of gold and silver, fashioned by Goldsmith Tonino Camilli di Orvieto.

Inside, the cockpit is finished in soft, sumptuous hand-sewn brown leather, that offers the driver maximum comfort. Detailing interior features include a roof-mounted protected ignition flick switch and engine starter button, a dashboard LCD screen for the rear mounted visibility camera, and continuing the use of precious metals, an individually-numbered identification plate made out of silver.

Because of all this, when the time came to name this prototype a word was chosen that comes from the ancient Tuscan language of the Etruscans: Antas, which means 'eagle', the noblest and most audacious dominator of the open spaces. On delivery, Antas comes equipped with a case covered in blue velvet bearing another silver plate etched with the car's identification numbers; while inside is a photography book and a DVD documenting the construction of the vehicle.

The Antas project has been based on an in-depth study of the stylistic evolution of the Italian automobile from the first years of the 1930s to the end of the 1960s: The golden era in which elements of style were created and developed, and even today place their imprint on the most beautiful lines of automobiles of the world.

The technical basis of this prototype derives directly from Italian grand touring cars of the 1960’s. The frame is a steel box adequately reinforced and modified, on which was mounted the model of tubes and sheet metal structure supported on the hand-moulded aluminium frame welded individually to the various components. Preparation and sanding were then done by the expert hands of artisans who prepared the body for painting, for which the best products of the recent generation are used.

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